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Showing results for tags 'vietnam'.
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This really has to be be one of the mist ill-informed, head in the sand, delusional opinion pieces I've ever read in the Bangkok Post. If this is really the thinking of people who have any sort of decision making authority in Thailand start packing your bags because the place is doomed. Faulty logic which you're usually taught in beginning debate class. Here's an example that illustrates how stupid this statement is: If you are sitting in a taxi at Asok and Sukhumvit on your way to Charlie Brown's on Soi 11 and I have just entered the BTS at Ekkamai you are closer to Soi 11 than I am but I will be traveling faster than you because the BTS doesn't slow for traffic. There's a better than average chance that I will be seated sipping a beer before your taxi makes it to CB's. Thailand's GDP growth rate has been: 2008: 2.5% 2009: -2.3% 2010: 7.8% Vietnam's GDP growth rate has been: 2008: 6.3% 2009: 5.3% 2010: 6.8% So let's take a baseline of 100. Thailand's GDP went to 102.5 in 2008, 100.14 in 2009 and 107.95 in 2010. Vietnam's GDP went from 100 to 106.3 in 2008, 111.93 in 2009, and 119.54 in 2010. Last time I checked, 119.54 is bigger than 107.95. Vietnam outperformed Thailand by over 10% in that 3 year period. Obviously Vietnam is still playing catch-up but the gap between Thailand and Vietnam decreased by 10% during 2008 - 2010. That is a narrowing gap, not a widening one. Who is this "one" with the expectations? Is he quoting any economists? Is he quoting Vietnamese politicians? No, most likely he's quoting himself. He wants to downplay Vietnam's success so he does so by making up some imaginary path that Vietnam was supposed to be on and then claims they're not doing as well as "he" expected. This is really a weak argument because if there's one thing that is true across the world its that money speeds things up. If Vietnam needs to quickly move goods from Point A to Point B they will build railroads, ferries, more roads, etc. Industry and the government will be more than happy to pay for that if it means bringing in more money. Besides, what is the author really saying? That once Vietnam builds the infrastructure that they'll blow Thailand away? Five to ten years is not a lot of time. If the author is admitting that Vietnam will have the infrastructure to compete with Thailand in 5 -10 years he might try containing his ego just a bit. And remember, Vietnam already outperformed Thailand by over 10% lacking the proper infrastructure. What happens to Thailand when Vietnam does build the roads, airports, trains, etc? Whatever they give this guy to smoke, I want some. There are tons of Thai businesses operating in Vietnam right now. He pulls out one example and tries to make his entire assessment of the country based on one company? Yeah, he's really buzzing now because Thailand has one of the worst educational systems and English literacy rates in the world. One of the things helping Vietnam is not having enough universities in the country. More and more people are being educated overseas. Also, in a somewhat related note, the last survey indicated that the average Vietnamese reads 40 books per year. Thais read, on average 2. This is exactly why Vietnam is such a huge threat to Thailand. They're behind Thailand today but they're catching up fast and they're hungry. Those 40 books being read each year by the Vietnamese are an indication that they're willing to invest in themselves. They see a brighter future. More importantly, they realize they're behind. That's what makes them hungry. Thailand has always had a problem with self-reflection. It never sees itself as the rest of the world sees it. So going back to the author's opening statement, Thailand is already complacent. Instead of English literacy rates improving or the quality of students upon graduation improving the numbers are getting worse. Which is the other side of the coin in terms of the problems Thailand faces. Everything is centralized at in Bangkok and local people have no authority to make their own decisions. Bangkok buys them things they don't need so some fat-cat in Bangkok can scoop millions off the top. Which is how most successful democracies operate. Compared to what? The low amount of corruption in Thailand? WTF?!?! Has the author even been to Thailand? Weren't the red shirt protests a byproduct of the widening gap between rich and poor? I hate to get all religious but what's that quote from The Bible: How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. This is why Vietnam will overtake Thailand in the next 10 or 20 years.
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I'm flying into BKK on March 10 and would like to get a flight to Hanoi for March 13 or 14. Can anyone tell me how long it typically takes to get a Vietnam tourist visa in BKK and for how much? Has anyone seen good deals for flights to Hanoi? Thanks.